A collecting rope which is intended especially for collecting oil from the surface of water, the rope comprising a drive chain which is situated inside a cylindrical part, which is surrounded by a lightweight float layer, which is surrounded by another cylindrical part, oil-collecting bristles being attached to the outer surface of the outer cylinder. The cylindrical parts can rotate in relation to the drive chain, since the joint between them consists of resilient protrusions on the inner surface of the inner cylinder. The cylinders and the chain are, however, locked to each other in the longitudinal direction.
A non-contact floating containment or repelling device used to gather, contain or repel a material such as oil that has been spilled on the surface of a body of water. This device consists of a plurality of paddlewheels serially connected along a shaft secured between distant vessels. This shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the paddlewheels which churn the water, thus repelling the spilled material away from the device and toward a central region. By this arrangement, the device itself never becomes contaminated by the spilled material and is sprayed with the churning water, and therefore, should a fire break out, damage to the device is unlikely.
A flexible shaft in which the interior rotating cable is formed of links having first and second loops formed of wires or bands that have a maximum diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the outer non-rotating shell. The second loop of one link is linked to the first loop of the adjacent link to provide a very flexible shaft or cable with a minimum of friction.
A flexible shaft comprising a flexible outer tube (10) containing a shaft core with specially designed links (18) that closely fit within the smooth interior of the outer tube (10). The links (18) are substantially rectangular and have construction which limits a flex angle between links. The links (18) may include stop surfaces (17) which limits the flex angle to prevent kinking or limit longitudinal movement of the links (18) with respect to one another.
A method and apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a body of water, subtidal seafloor, a riverbed, a shoreline or a beach are disclosed. The method employs a sweeping action of oleophilic bristles comprising at least one brush to remove oil from such a surface and a suction means to remove oil from the bristles. The apparatus comprises one or more oleophilic bristled brushes connected to a support means. The brushes are positioned so that they have a lower portion in contact with the oil and an upper portion above the oil. A motor means moves the brushes so that the oil is drawn into the brushes. A suction means, such as an air conveyor system, removes the oil from the brushes.
A marine barrier system comprising first and second barrier sections and a coupler system. The first and second barrier sections comprise first and second main flotation members, respectively, and each main flotation member contains buoyant material. The coupler system is arranged at the juncture of the first and second barrier sections. The coupler system is arranged such that the first and second main flotation members may be placed in a storage configuration and in a deployed configuration. In the storage configuration, the first and second main flotation members are arranged in a parallel, side by side arrangement. In the deployed configuration, the first and second main flotation members are arranged end to end to define a barrier line in a body of water across which movement is limited.
